Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina
Mountain oxytrope
Photo: parent species Oxytropis oreophila · (c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina (Mountain oxytrope) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by 2 sympatric varieties; differentiated by elevation, habitat, and cushion growth form.
Mountain oxytrope is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native perennial found in dry, rocky hillsides of pinyon-juniper woodland and desert shrub at elevations of 1,650 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pink-purple flowers with a banner 9 to 12 millimeters long arranged in small clusters of 2 to 15 blooms. Growing in dense, cushion-like clumps with short, nearly erect stems, it forms compact mats across rocky terrain. Its leaves are compact, bearing 7 to 11 small elliptic to ovate leaflets, each 2 to 7 millimeters long. The fruit is spreading to ascending, pale to brownish in color, measuring 10 to 12 millimeters long and 4 to 6 millimeters wide.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric varieties; differentiated by elevation, habitat, and cushion growth form
Habitat and range
Habitat: Barren knolls, dry, rocky hillsides in pinyon-juniper woodland to desert shrub
Elevation: 1650-2500 m
Outside California: eastern Nevada, southcentral Utah, central Arizona
Bloom period
Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Astragalus: Oxytropis keel petal has sharp pointed beak; Astragalus keel is rounded or blunt.; vs Ornithopus: Oxytropis pods split open; Ornithopus pods break into bead-like segments.; vs Peteria: Oxytropis lacks spiny stipules; Peteria has conspicuous spines at leaf bases.; vs Marina: Oxytropis has beaked keel, loose clusters; Marina has rounded petals, dense 1cm spikes.; vs Acmispon: Oxytropis has beaked keel petal; Acmispon keel is rounded without beak.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina native to California?
Yes. Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina bloom?
Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina belong to?
Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina is in the Fabaceae family, genus Oxytropis.
Is Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina rare or endangered?
Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina grow in?
Oxytropis oreophila var. juniperina grows in Barren knolls, dry, rocky hillsides in pinyon-juniper woodland to desert shrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.